My first baby has become a spunky, kind-hearted, and sweet little girl.

A letter to my Elly Angel:
Your Daddy and I are so proud of the lovely girl you have become. You are a wonderful, caring sister to your siblings. You welcomed both Brooke and Malcolm into our family with open arms. You ask to hold Mal every day, several times a day. You can’t wait to play with Brooke when you get home from school.

You are a wonderful daughter, brightening my day with your cheery disposition and kindness. I am amazed and occasionally frustrated by your conviction and stubbornness.

You would wear a leotard every waking hour of the day if I would let you. Periodically, we have long discussions of why leotards cannot be worn to school.

Like most other girls we know, you adore Queen Elsa.

You love mermaids and wish you could be one.

You are a natural born leader, taking charge of what games to play and dictating how to play them.

You enjoy making crafts at home and at school.

You enjoy school, but often put up a fight before school because you miss your family while you are there.

Any drawings that you make either has our family in it or a rainbow. Sometimes it has both.

It has been a fun 5 years, Elly. Here’s to many more.

]]>http://knittedgems.com/2015/02/09/my-5-year-old/feed/0KnittedGemsNesting Crazehttp://knittedgems.com/2014/09/15/nesting-craze/
http://knittedgems.com/2014/09/15/nesting-craze/#commentsMon, 15 Sep 2014 18:57:11 +0000http://knittedgems.com/?p=2920]]>Baby Mal is due in 3 days. So naturally, I have energy to spare and have put it to good use in finally completing our dining room.

Now:

I just adore the pictures I had printed from Snapfish. There are no pictures of Baby Mal, but he isn’t likely to care for at least a year or two and that will give me enough time to accumulate some pictures of the kids together.

Before:

It’s such a huge transformation. It is amazing what a new can of paint can do (and what a new camera can produce). Though Dan was worried about the bright orange, even he admits how much better the dining room looks.

Because I had such fun making the Haigh letters, I bought more letters to do Baby Mal’s name.

Poor 3rd child. He has to share his room with the occasional guest until we buy a bigger house. Though truthfully, it is Dan and I that will have to share our room for the first few years with Baby Mal. It is only his clothes dresser and changing table that is in the guest bedroom.

I spent the rest of the day in the place where I hope to spend every Mother’s Day: my garden.

I planted the after-frost seeds today, inserted all the cages and frames, and laid down the soaker hose system.

I purchased my soaker hose system from Gardeners Supply Company. It is worth its weight in gold, especially since I detest standing over a garden in the heat holding a hose. With the soaker system, I just attach our hose, turn the water on and walk away for 2 hours. It’s a thing of beauty and the only reason my garden survives the long, hot summer.

Gosh, when I write it all down, it looks like I went and lost my mind. It should be noted that the asparagus, rhubarb, chives, thyme, sage, rosemary, lavender, mint and lemon balm are all perennials and thus require little to no effort. All I have to do is keep the weeds at bay. Here’s hoping our local shop hurries up and fixes Dan’s lawn mower soon. I could use some grass clippings to mulch around all the plants and help discourage the weeds.

After a day of gardening, I am sore and a little chewed upon thanks to the swarm of gnats that followed me everywhere. It was a wonderful day though.

I hope your Mother’s Day was just as wonderful!

]]>http://knittedgems.com/2014/05/11/happy-mothers-day-2014/feed/1KnittedGemsSplashing in Puddles – Then and Nowhttp://knittedgems.com/2014/05/05/splashing-in-puddles-then-and-now/
http://knittedgems.com/2014/05/05/splashing-in-puddles-then-and-now/#commentsMon, 05 May 2014 11:00:05 +0000http://knittedgems.com/?p=2915]]>

1980
I was 3 1/2 in this picture, splashing in a puddle outside my grandmother’s house.

2014
Elly is 4 years old in this picture, splashing in a puddle outside a friend’s house.

Despite measuring a little large, the due date of September 18th remains steadfast.

Elly is slightly disappointed that she will not have a baby sister. She was so hoping to name her Ariel. Yet, I think she will get over it.

]]>http://knittedgems.com/2014/05/02/pregnant-with-mal/feed/2KnittedGemsDine to Donatehttp://knittedgems.com/2014/04/11/dine-to-donate/
http://knittedgems.com/2014/04/11/dine-to-donate/#commentsFri, 11 Apr 2014 14:15:01 +0000http://knittedgems.com/?p=2909]]>On Wednesday April 10, the MOMS Club of Pottstown/Pottsgrove hosted a Dine to Donate at Friendlys on Shoemaker Road in Pottstown.

As listed in the flyer above, all proceeds went to the Mason Gulotta Foundation to help support research at CHOP for congenital heart defects. For more information on the Foundation please visit here.

For a little background history, Mason Gulotta is the son of a MOMS club member.

He was born with several heart defects and has undergone 3 open heart surgeries in 3 years. Yet 20 years ago, children born with these congenital heart defects were not expected to live through childhood.

We were proud to be able to donate over $200 to this great foundation. Thank you to all who came out Wednesday night and supported us.

On Saturday May 31st, the MOMS Club of Pottstown/Pottsgrove will be hosting a Flapjack Fundraiser at Applebees in Pottstown from 8am – 10am. Rainbow the Clown will be in attendance making balloon creations for the kids. There will also be a basket raffle. All proceeds will benefit Happy 2 be Home, a local organization that retrofits houses for children with chronic illnesses or injuries. For information on how to purchase tickets in advance, please contact us at pottsgrovemomsclub@gmail.com or visit our Facebook Fan Page.

You can tell it has been a long time if you look at the picture of Elly wearing it. She looks like such a baby with all that chub!

Yet, it was only after finding a test knitter last year that I was motivated to complete the pattern.

While visiting the Please Touch Museum with my dear friend and my godson, I took more pictures of Elly in the skirt. My favorite picture was of Elly showing off its twirling abilities while running in circles!